[mikeysosa]

Wanted to see your guys honest opinion. Personally, I do all of the work on all of my cars myself, but I know many of the risks involved. Do you guys think it's worth it to save the money and learn more by working on it yourself or would you rather just go to the shop and have it done?

[mikeysosa]

Also, if anyone knows how to add a poll lmk lol.

[jmack]

I do everything on my 20 year old F-250 because it's really easy to work on, everything is just out in the open with lots of room to work and usually doesn't even need to be jacked up.

F36 and Corvette, depends on the job. If I think it's beyond my capabilities or just not worth the frustration I will go to a mechanic.

[erickonphoenix]

I usually draw up a risk reward matrix. If it's really expensive but not likely I can fuck it up I'll DIY, but if it's a cheap job that could brick the car then I'll have it done. Of course the nuance usually lies in the middle of the matrix.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

I usually draw up a risk reward matrix. If it's really expensive but not likely I can fuck it up I'll DIY, but if it's a cheap job that could brick the car then I'll have it done. Of course the nuance usually lies in the middle of the matrix.

+1

I've done plugs and filters on my F15. Dealer wanted almost $800 to replace the TPMS sensors even when I supplied the sensors, so I'll be doing that (they've peeled off the old tires and will mount and balance the new ones). I had them do the brake flush since it was included in the service plan. I'm trying to decide whether or not to DIY my brakes in about 5K miles; I'm researching here to see how difficult it is and whether I'll have to buy any special tools that I'll probably never use again.

[ramman434]

I'd like to do everything on my own, but lack the knowledge or the technical know-how. That being said, that's why I love DIY threads. I love to learn how things are built, the mechanics that went into them, and how to repair/modify them.

I've always enjoyed helping my more mechanically inclined friends because it gives me a chance to work with my hands and learn something new each time.

However, if it is something larger, that I definitely don't have tools/knowledge for, nor do my friends, I then will find an Indy as a last resort.

[overcoil]

nice thing about DIY is in an emergency you might have enough experience to make a repair and get the car home

DIY has also helped me catch dealer (Mercedes) B.S..

Unfortunately now I'm in a condo so no more DIY preventive maintenance.

[RugbyBro]

Depends on the car and if you have the tools/setup. IMO, BMWs are pretty straight forward to DIY. I do everything short of any job involving disassembly or relocation of engine/transmission, or removing the subframes. I also have tools and garage space to do so, which is an extremely important factor.

Honestly it makes you appreciate the fact that no matter how "advanced" or "modern" cars appear to be - they are just a collection of gears, nuts, and bolts under the surface.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Fuck the shop, I DIY everything so that I know it's done right and I can actually afford cars like these. If I went to the shop my 4k$ 2 year maintenance would have probably costed at least twice that I'd say.

[fastboatster]

I’m leaning towards doing most of the tasks myself, however in some cases when they are relatively inexpensive then I leave those to the shop. However, many more complex jobs such as engine replacements can basically “mechanically total” the car due to the labor and they actually can be diyed with a set of cheap Hf tools. Or it’s basically considering as if the car was totaled in accident but you won’t get anything from the insurance.

[chassis]

I DIY most things, but not all. Transmission fluid replacement I have done at the dealer. Not because I can't do it, but because the time, effort and mess to DIY, it's something I am willing to pay the dealer to do. Oil, brakes, filters, spark plugs, tire rotation, etc., I DIY.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

Dealer wanted almost $800 to replace the TPMS sensors even when I supplied the sensors

That's insane. i recently supplied wheels and tires to a tire shop for mount/balance, and told them they'd have to swap the TPMS sensors over from the current set. They didn't charge anything extra for it. Seeing your $800 quote for this makes me a little less miffed that they lost the Audi valve caps on the Q5 recently...


Anyways, looks like I'm the only one so far who didn't vote DIY. I don't go to a shop for everything...but for the majority of problems I just don't want to deal with it anymore. I've swapped engines and subframes and coilovers and driveshafts and just about every major maintenance item when I was in high school and I mostly hated every minute of it. Now, for most things, I'll gladly pay a shop while I enjoy my free time. I'm more than content with knowing how to fix things and choosing not to.

[Chapperss]

Interesting one this OP - I was going to say you will get a skewed result as we are all members of an enthusiasts forum - but then it made me think, did all people join such a forum for the same reason as me.

I joined for the DIY and to learn what the consensus is amongst a non biased (product/corp/paid sense) collective on the best parts and ways of doing things. Others may join for different reasons. I know the cool pic thread is almost reason enough on its own

My personal take is - DIY up until a point my time becomes more valuable than the cost of the work or the specialist tools (that would be used once) negate the saving. Luckily i am very time rich but if I had kids I and we relied in the car then things would be very different.

Side note as you mention risk - A friend once said he thought i was mad for doing my own brake pads (I know, I know) because he wouldn`t trust himself - I asked why he trusted someone he didn`t know, that's under pressure to get a job done in a time frame, and, you have no control on the experience of that person. Now IMO you cant get a brake pad change wrong (easily) and not notice pretty much instantly but the point is valid.

[SharpAndCunning]

Usually I lean towards the DIY. When oil changes at the dealer were $89.99, I would take it to the dealer, because I couldn't buy the oil and materials for much less than that, and then the time associated and the mess.

When my local dealer got bought out, oil changes jumped to $189, so now I do them myself. $89 is worth the convenience, $189 is not.

Regular stuff I do myself. The water pump on the X1, 335, is probably where I draw the line as far as difficulty. After replacing the pump, I have a leak I can't find, and I probably should have found an indie shop to replace it. I'm into this for like 8 hours and it's not really worth it.

[CalAcacian]

Used to be an all DIY-guy. But now it's a shop almost every time for me. My time is too important to me and valuable to spend it working on my car now.

From a cost perspective, every job is more expensive as a DIY job than taking it to a pro. Especially now that I don't have access to as many tools as I used to, most jobs I would normally have done are a pain anyways.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

That's insane. i recently supplied wheels and tires to a tire shop for mount/balance, and told them they'd have to swap the TPMS sensors over from the current set. They didn't charge anything extra for it. Seeing your $800 quote for this makes me a little less miffed that they lost the Audi valve caps on the Q5 recently...


Anyways, looks like I'm the only one so far who didn't vote DIY. I don't go to a shop for everything...but for the majority of problems I just don't want to deal with it anymore. I've swapped engines and subframes and coilovers and driveshafts and just about every major maintenance item when I was in high school and I mostly hated every minute of it. Now, for most things, I'll gladly pay a shop while I enjoy my free time. I'm more than content with knowing how to fix things and choosing not to.

I was hard-core DIY in high school and first couple of years of college when my dad still owned his farm/feedlot. Replaced the starter on my '76 Chevy Monte Carlo at -15F outside with no shelter, laying on my back and keeping the wrenches inside my coat so they wouldn't freeze to my hands the moment I grabbed them. Probably rebuilt a couple dozen Rochester carburetors, which could be tricky. Then I got busy playing in bands and working and I didn't have the time to work on much except oil changes and maintenance. Then I moved to the city and we sold the farm and I had no place to work on anything.

Flash forward to 2001, when I built my cabin. Somewhere along the line I had realized how much I missed wrenching, and the feeling of accomplishment and connection to the car. Even before the cabin was built, I put up a 32'x72' pole barn with a concrete floor and one end finished and heated and insulated. I've since added a new better floor with a new polyurea coating. And a double pedestal reach-under hoist. And an above-ground fuel tank. There are still things that I'd rather turn over to someone else, but for the most part I'm loving being DIY-capable again.

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by CalAcacian

Used to be an all DIY-guy. But now it's a shop almost every time for me. My time is too important to me and valuable to spend it working on my car now.

From a cost perspective, every job is more expensive as a DIY job than taking it to a pro. ...

For me, working on the car is therapy. And is way cheaper than the regular kind. I am sure my blood pressure is reduced too. I can buy the parts I want as well and I know the job is done right.

That said I never have to finish on a deadline. There is always another ride here just in case. Interestingly my family has no problem interrupting me on the phone but when I am in the driveway, somehow they know to wait till I come in for a drink or otherwise.

And I too value my time. But in this case the benefit far outweighs that.

///Rich

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by CalAcacian

Used to be an all DIY-guy. But now it's a shop almost every time for me. My time is too important to me and valuable to spend it working on my car now.

From a cost perspective, every job is more expensive as a DIY job than taking it to a pro. Especially now that I don't have access to as many tools as I used to, most jobs I would normally have done are a pain anyways.

This is based on calculating your professional salary hourly rate times the hours it takes to complete a DIY project?

[Efthreeoh]

I DIY a bit:

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

I was hard-core DIY in high school and first couple of years of college when my dad still owned his farm/feedlot. Replaced the starter on my '76 Chevy Monte Carlo at -15F outside with no shelter, laying on my back and keeping the wrenches inside my coat so they wouldn't freeze to my hands the moment I grabbed them. Probably rebuilt a couple dozen Rochester carburetors, which could be tricky. Then I got busy playing in bands and working and I didn't have the time to work on much except oil changes and maintenance. Then I moved to the city and we sold the farm and I had no place to work on anything.

Flash forward to 2001, when I built my cabin. Somewhere along the line I had realized how much I missed wrenching, and the feeling of accomplishment and connection to the car. Even before the cabin was built, I put up a 32'x72' pole barn with a concrete floor and one end finished and heated and insulated. I've since added a new better floor with a new polyurea coating. And a double pedestal reach-under hoist. And an above-ground fuel tank. There are still things that I'd rather turn over to someone else, but for the most part I'm loving being DIY-capable again.

I started to DIY cars out of necessity. I couldn't afford a new car when I was 16. Before smart phones, if you wanted to hang out with girls, you had to actually drive to see them (yeah, crazy idea that is nowadays). So I bought $200 used cars and had to repair them to have personal transportation.

Lucky for me my dad was an avid DIY'er of all things mechanical and domicile and I was his go-fer as a youngin'. So I picked up his love of repairing things and learned tools at a young age and thankfully have his aptitude for it as well. Of my three brothers, I'm the most afflicted (gifted?). So it turned into a hobby for me. A great hobby since it saves money and is beneficial in life. I can't imagine living life not being able to fix stuff. My dad built his own radios, TV, stereo and voltmeter (from Heathkit). I vividly remember him building the TV on the dining room table; I think I was 6 or at most 8 at the time. I had other men of my dad's generation who honed my DIY'ing skills as well; friend's fathers who needed their son's friends to help work on houses, etc.

Based on my pic posted above, I may be a bit too much into it? Shit, I don't know; but as rich.wolfson previously said, it's therapy.

[Smgs1992]

It depends on the car and the problem. Alot of stuff i’ll DIY but there’s also other more complex or long jobs i’ll hire out.
I dont mind doing the majority of jobs on my BMW it’s pretty easy to work on. However i hate working on fords so i’m more likely to take that to a shop.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by CalAcacian

Used to be an all DIY-guy. But now it's a shop almost every time for me. My time is too important to me and valuable to spend it working on my car now.

From a cost perspective, every job is more expensive as a DIY job than taking it to a pro. Especially now that I don't have access to as many tools as I used to, most jobs I would normally have done are a pain anyways.

That assumes that I'm foregoing billable hours to wrench...or mow my lawn, or blow snow, or split firewood, or rake leaves. But I'm not. I bill 40 to 50+ hours a week all year long except when I'm on vacation. That's about as many hours as I can work in a week and still be focused and effective. I do all the other stuff when I'm done with work, so that I can start the next day relaxed and positive and ready to work.